Interview: Donna Alward, 'The House on Blackberry Hill'

Donna Alward, whose The House on Blackberry Hill comes out today, chats with HEA about the new book, being a fish out of water and some of her favorite authors. She also writes for the Harlequin American Romance imprint, and her next book with them, The Texan's Baby, comes out in June.

Joyce: Welcome back to HEA, Donna! Please tell us about your new release, The House on Blackberry Hill.

Donna: Thanks for having me back! I'm so so so so excited for The House on Blackberry Hill to finally hit shelves today! This book and series has been a long time coming — the ideas first started percolating in 2009, but it took some time to really nail down how my first "bigger" book was going to take shape. It has a bunch of different elements that I love: a small, colorful town, warm characters, a real ghost (which is loosely based on personal experience!), family secrets, and at its core, a tender romance. Abby's hesitant to give anyone her heart because the people she cares for tend to leave her in one way or another. And then Tom … oh, the sexy Tom. He fell for the wrong woman and had his heart broken. I loved bringing them together! (Find out more about Donna's personal experience with a ghost at Romance at Random.)

Joyce: Heroine Abby is a fish out of water. Have you ever been a fish out of water?

Donna: Heck yes. I'm an introvert (like a lot of writers) so stepping into new situations is difficult. I'm usually OK once I get there, but that first step into a room full of people? Yeah. One example that comes to mind is the first time I went to an RWA National Conference (again in 2009. That was an important year, apparently). My room wasn't ready, so I had to wait in the lobby for nearly three hours by myself, not knowing a soul. But I recognized a few faces at a nearby table. It took me over an hour to work up the nerve to go over and ask if I could join them. Of course it was a warm and friendly welcome — great to meet each other in person after knowing of each other online for ages. But for that hour, I felt SO out of place!

Joyce: You and another Donna (Kauffman) both set your romances on the coast of Maine. What's the appeal of Maine?

Donna: I love the East Coast! I'm from New Brunswick, Canada, so I'm familiar with being close to the ocean. Now I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which isn't far from the iconic Peggy's Cove. The coastal landscape in Maine is quite similar, so it felt really comfortable to build a town there. I tend to tell local readers that Jewell Cove is like the south shore towns of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg got together and had a baby. : ) I write a lot of Westerns, too, and there are similarities in writing small-town settings. But there is something different about the ocean. In one scene I refer to it as a "cruel mistress." There's a strength and resolve that is unique and really calls to me.

Joyce: Is there a book or books or author(s) in particular that hooked you on romance?

Donna: The first real romance I ever read was Vows by LaVyrle Spencer, and she is my favorite author of all time. I have read everything of hers at least a dozen times. I cut my teeth on her, Judith McNaught, Nora Roberts. Nora's McGregors were the first stories to get me hooked on series romance. I'd say that was a pretty good start! Before LaVyrle, the closest I came to romance was Anne of the Island by LM Montgomery. I still can't resist Anne, Gilbert, and Royal Gardiner. It's probably my favorite Anne book … with Rilla of Ingleside being a close second.

Joyce: Read any good books lately?

Donna: One of the best books I've read in a long time isn't a romance at all. It's called The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason. It's the story of a young girl and her family and the changes to her and the community when land is expropriated to build a hydro dam. I was interested because it's based on a historical event, even though the characters are totally fictitious. My family's farm was one of those expropriated (before I was born). I picked it up for that reason, but the characters totally sucked me in and I adored it. It totally deserved the accolades it received when it was published.

Joyce: Is there anything you'd like to add?

Donna: I love hearing from readers! I'm always lurking around my Facebook page or on Twitter (@DonnaAlward). There's also a place to e-mail me on my website, www.donnaalward.com.

HEA curator and contributor Joyce Lamb is a USA TODAY best-selling author of romantic suspense and three-time RITA finalist and has been a professional journalist for 25 years. You can reach her at jlamb@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter (@JoyceLamb). You can also follow HEA on Twitter (@HEAusatoday).